Having trouble with Windows XP file and printer sharing

self

[rudy45]

I am having trouble doing network printing.

I have two notebook computers (Dell and Akoya), each of which runds XP Home, with SP2. I also have a USB-attachable printer (HP 930 series) that can be attached to either notebook.

Both computers have a wireless connection to a router, which int turn is connected into a cable modem. Both computers are able to gain access to the internet.

Both computers can ping the router. The Dell computer can ping the Akoya. The Akoya computer is UNABLE to ping the Dell.

When I click on "My Network Places" on the Dell, and select the option to "Add Printers," then select the option to add a network printer, I get, on the "browse for printer" dialog, an entry only for Microsoft Windows network." When I click on this entry to expand it, nothing happens.

When I click on "My Network Places" on the Akoya, and similarly "add printers," I see "Micorosft WIndows Network," then MSHOME (the name of the network), followed by the computer name of the Dell. However, even though I have the HP printer connected to the Dell (and DID specify that I wanted printer sharing), I was unable to print up the printer name associatd with sharing.

These problems occur even if I temporarily disable Norton Intermedia Security

I would appreciate any help.

[Petronski]

Go to the computer you're using to print and try to access a hard drive on the computer that has the printer connected. If it asks you to log in, do so, and your problem might very well be solved.

[Auntie Mame]

I can't offer any help, only say that with my Windows 2000 computer I was NEVER able to share anything with the other networked computer or printer, even having had an expert work on it. We finally just "hard wired" to the printer, thank goodness it had two ports so each computer can access.

On another note, hope not to hijack your thread, but I need some Windows XP help myself. I'm thinking of getting new computers at work and of course they will be loaded with Windows XP, but I've got a lot of DOS documents in Word Perfect 5.1 that I need to be able to search the contents on a regular basis. I can do this in Windows 98 with no problem, but using XP I've not been able to get it to look inside the documents. I've searched the internet about this problem to no avail. It appears that XP really sucks in its search function, but maybe someone here can enlighten me.

Hope you get your problem fixed. And thank you (not that you had any choice) for giving me an opportunity to ask my question.

[spycatcher]

You often have to type the network printer location and name manually.


Example:

\\WIN-XP\Samsung ML-1710

[Petronski]

In each computer of the network, the "subnet mask" in the TCP/IP properties of the network card must be identical.

If one is 255.0.0.0 and the other is 255.255.255.0, they will by design NEVER see each other. Those two settings are common defaults, and they even get "remembered" the same by the human mind...or at least by my mind.

[Auntie Mame]

Sigh, I always forget where the TCP/IP stuff is. Can you give me a clue? Thank you very much.

Oh, and about my "problem" searching in XP, just typing it here I had a lightbulb moment and went to the Microsoft website (hadn't thought of searching there) and found out what I have to do. It seems the search function on XP ignores all extensions except the common ones and you have to do some stuff to make it search everything, including, if all else fails, changing the registry. I'll try the simple fix and if that doesn't work, well, I've never had to do anything to the registry and since it isn't my computer I need to search on, I think I'll pass on that one.

Thanks again.

[Petronski]

Not easy. This is win2000:

Select: Start | Settings | Control Panel

Double Click "Network and Dial-up Connections"

Double Click "Local Area Connection"

Button: Properties

Double Click "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Subnet mask is right there. If you're obtaining your IP address automatically, this might not be the problem. If the numbers AREN'T grayed out, match the numbers.

[Auntie Mame]

Perfect! Win 2000 is what I want to connect. I use so many computers with different operating systems, it gets pretty confusing sometimes. I know I've been to the particular place but can't remember how I got there.

I use Windows 98 at one job and XP at another place, Windows 2000 at home and OSX for my Mac. Can you understand how I'd get a little confused?

Which Windows operating system do I like the best? Anything but XP (possibly because it feels like it's made for stupid people, possibly because I'm least familiar with it).

I'll let you know how I do with my connection situation. Thank YOU!

[Petronski]

If that doesn't do it, get back to me. I might dredge up other ideas.

Plus, I love win2k. Properly pruned, winxp can be good too, but win2k is the quick-n-dirty NT OS.

[rudy45]

I have two computers on my home network that I want to "see" each other: "Akoya" and "Dell." The workgroup name is MSHOME. After I run the network wizard on Akoya, I can start Windows Explorer, and under My Network Places, I can see "MSHOME" and under it, "Akoya." I DO NOT See "Dell."

After I run the wizard on Dell, and specify "Dell" and "MSHOME," I start Windows Explorer. I DO see MSHOME, but there is no "plus sign" ("+") next to it, meaning that it is non-expandable. When I click on MSHOME, the system waits a few minutes, then gives me a message, "MSHOME is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource....."

In other words, the Dell computer can't even see itself... (?)

[ken in texas]

Do you have "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Netwoks" installed for that connection?

[rudy45]

When I run the home networking wizard, I am asked if I want to enable file and print sharing, and I say "yes." I am assuming that this feature is enabled (?). Am I correct? How can I confirm?

By the way, I reran the wizard on the Dell, and renamed it "MYDELL." I had to restart afterwards. When I did, and refreshed Explorer on the other computer (the Akoya), I COULD see MYDELL from the Akoya. But still, when I click on MYDELL from Akoya, I get a "this system is not accessible" message...

In other words, I can see it from the Akoya but I can't access it.

[ken in texas]

I don't have XP Home here... but I think you can go to Start -- Setting -- Network Connections (or open Network Connections in the Control Panel.)

You should see an entry there for the local area connection; right click on it and select Properties. That should show all of the items installed for that connection.

[rudy45]

I'm going to sign into the router and see if I have to change any settings there... thanks.

[rudy45]

I signed into the router (D Link 614+) and looked at LAN settings. The IP address and subnet mask are listed. I also see a field for domain name, but it's "optional." Just for the heck of it, I typed in MSHOME. Let's see what happens. Is there anything else I might need to look at from a router standpoint?

[rudy45]

This process is frustrating. I went back to the Dell computer, and ran the home network wizard again. I specified a name of "MYDELL" and a workgroup name of MSHOME. The wizard seemed to run successfully.

Here's the frustrating part: after I finish the wizard, I go to My Network Place and click on the link for "view workgroup computers." The system tries to process the request, then gives me the message, "Mshome is not available. You might not have permission to use this network resource..."

[rudy45]

Question: I am running ZoneAlarm. Does that product interfere with home networking? I am seeing some comments in that regard. Thanks.

[spycatcher]

Thry using NetBEUI on your network. Often works for weird network issues like this.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;301041&sd=tech

[rudy45]

Thanks, I got it to work. I made two changes:
- changed workgroup from MSHOME my own name (I read that other people fixed problems this way)--I'm not sure if this change was really necessary, though

- more importantly, I disabled Norton Internet Security on both the print server (the computer that the shareable computer attached) and the print requester (the computer that wants to do remote printing).

As soon as I did, the "browse" list expanded, from the network name, to the workgroup name, to the computer name to the list of printers attached. I selected the printer I wanted, and now I am OK.

This task was really a nuisance.

Thanks.

[ken in texas]

Glad you got it working... I've been out of touch for a while but it sounds like all is well.

Yes, ZoneAlarm was another possibility. It might not recognize that your home network is safe; in that case, it will block accesses. Norton Internet Security might have the same type of setup but I'm not familiar with that product; there might be some config settings you can play with but I can't help you there.